Display panel construction



Jan. 12, 1960 E. R. ANGEHRN DISPLAY PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 11. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan, 12, 1960 E. R. ANGEHRN 2,920,410 DISPLAY PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 11. 1957 @QMM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 12, 1960 E. ANGEHRN DISPLAY PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 11 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet United States Patent() 2,920,410 DISPLAY PANEL CONSTRUCTION Emile Robert Angehrn, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application September 11, 1957, Serial No. 683,281 11 Claims. (Cl. 40-126) The present invention relates to graphic and fine arts devices of a type which, when erected, are dimensional and take on shape or form of subject or product depicted and which are collapsible and foldable into a size making them more suitable for shipping or mailing.

Devices of'the type with which the invention is concerned comprise essentially of a panel or panels carrying the desired art work in the form of pictures or photographs of the article concerned and in some cases include means for the support and display of samples or miniatures of the articles.

These displays vary in size from relatively small cards or sheets of from about 8 to 10 inches high to relatively large sheets or panels, suitably contoured, of several feet in height. As will be appreciated, in the larger sizes such displays present a problem when it comes to ship ping or mailing. Further, since they sometimes have relatively fragile portions or extensions, it is necessary to provide some means of protection or auxiliary Wrapping when they are shipped or mailed.

As a partial solution to such problems it, has been previously proposed to make the display panels of light gauge paperboard or cardboard which could be rolled up for shipping or mailing. Since such display sheets are not, of themselves, self-supporting, it is of course necessary to provide easels or supports from which the flexible display sheets are mounted or supported. However, although the problem of reducing the size of the display sheetis thus overcome, the easels or supports, since they generally extend the full length of the sheet, still present a problem with respect to their shipping or mailing. As a further solution, it has been proposed to makesuch display panels in heavier material and have thejpanels fold or crease so that they can be folded into a flat package. Again however, full-length easels or supports are required and these, even when also made in collapsible form, present a problem in shipping and/or mailing. 1

The present invention recognizes these difliculties and aims to provide a solution by furnishing a collapsible display construction which can be made in any size from a few inches to several feet in height and can be collapsed and folded upon itself together with the necessary supporting base into a complete, easily erected unit which lends itself particularly to mailing, shipping or storage.

This is'accomplished by utilizing the principle that if a fiat sheet or strip of flexible material is shaped or deformed into an annular, arcuate, or rectangular section it immediately becomes substantially rigid and self-supporting. This of course has been attempted before by taking a flat sheet of flexible material and deforming it by attachment to a full length'easel or support. In the present construction however means are provided whereby a lower portion only of the sheet is deformed and restrained under tension in deformed condition transversely of the length or height of the sheet so that the entire sheet regardless of its extended length will become self-supporting in the manner desired.

2,920,410 Patented. Jan. 12 1 960 Accordingly, the invention is embodied in a display panel or panels each of which includes a main body of flexible sheet material which is scored and folded at at least one point transversely of the length of the sheet to provide a hinged connection adapting the sheet to be folded at least once upon itself. The scored and folded sheet when placed inextended and unfolded condition is normally non-self-supporting in an erected position and in accordance with the present invention a supporting base is connected tothe sheet betweenthe adjacent transverse margin and the scored and folded hinged connection extending across the sheet. If the sheet is scored and folded transversely at several spaced apart points, which will be necessary with alarge display, the supporting base is connectedto the sheet below the first of such transverse scored and folded hinged connections from the transverse margin of the sheet.

The supporting base is connected to the flexible sheet adjacent each longitudinal marginal edge with the center portion unattached and free. An extension of the supporting base, hingedly connected to the base at this point and having a contouredsheet engaging face is adapted to be hingedly or pivotally folded inwards against the back surfaceof thesheet so as to extend and deform the sheet outwardly from the supporting base and transversely of the length of the sheet. The shape or outline of the contoured face of the base extension controls the deformationor contour applied to the flexible sheet transversely of itslength. As will be appreciated, the con tour could be any arcuate form desired, preferably symmetrical, or any angular form to which the flexible sheet would readily adapt itself. 7 p 7 With this arrangement, when the sheet is extended or unfolded, thepivoting inwards of the contoured extension of ,the supporting base deforms the adjacent sheet portion and this deformation is carried the length of the sheet while the connection of the base at each side of the sheet restrains the sheet under tension, so that it instantly becomes substantially rigid and self-supporting.

As will be appreciated, this constructionlends itself to many and varied forms of display panels. As the sheets themselves can be folded several times, and since. the supporting base portion is at all times no greater than the distance from the adjacent transverse marginal edge of the sheet to the first fold, the entire assembly can be folded into a compact unit of substantially rectangular; outline having dimensions suitable for mailing or shipping. The present construction readily lends itself to all types of extensions or supports for articles which can be attached to the main sheet body. For example, the first portion of the main display sheet connected to the supporting base can have integral hingedly connected extensions at each side with a scored and folded hinged connection extending parallel with the outer margins of the main sheet. These wings or extensions can be folded inwardly over and within the dimensions of the first sheet portion and supporting base, as described above.

Having thus generally described the nature of the in-' vention, particular reference will be made. to the accom panying drawings wherein there is shown by way of an example, several display panel constructions in accordance with the present invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhatdiagrammatic view in perspective elevation of a self-supporting display panel in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a' cross-sectional view of the shown in Figure 1 along the line 2-2;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the construction shownin Figure 2 along the line 3-3;

construction- Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view partially in section illustrating the folding inwardly of a portion of the dis-..

play construction shown in Figure 1 with the preliminary folds shown in broken lines;

Figure 5 is a rear view of a first portion of the display construction shown in Figure 1 to illustrate more clearly the supporting base and supporting base extension;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective elevation of the display of Figure 1 shown in completely folded condition ready for mailing or shipping;

Figure 7 is a cross-section of the folded display shown in Figure 6 to illustrate in more detail the relative position of the various folded-in portions of the display;

Figure 8 is a rear view of the folded display of Figure 1 and with reference to Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a view in plan of the scored blank from which the display panel in Figure 1 can be made;

Figure 10 is a view in plan of the blank from which the supporting base of the display panel in Figure l is made;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view in perspective elevation of an alternative form of a display folder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 12 is a rear view of the display construction of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the construction of Figure 11 along the line 13-13;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 11 along the line 14-14;

Figure 15 is a transverse cross-section of the construction of Figure 11 corresponding to Figure 13 with the display in fiat condition;

Figure 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the display of Figure 11 in flat unfolded condition with the folding of the top portion shown in broken lines;

Figure 17 is a view in plan of the blank from which the display panel of Figure 11 is made;

Figure 18 is a view in plan of the blank from which the supporting base of the construction of Figure 11 is made;

Figure 19 is a front view of the display construction of Figure 11 shown in perspective elevation as it would appear when folded as shown in Figure 16;

Figure 20 is a rear view of the display folder of Figure 11 as it would appear in folded condition ready for mailing or shipping.

With particular reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, a display panel constructed in accordance with the invention is shown by way of an example and in which the main body of the display consists of a sheet of flexible cardboard in the form of a one-piece blank having an outline simulating a beverage bottle or the like. This blank is scored, as shown in Figure 9, to provide a first panel 12, a second panel 14 and a third panel 16. Side panel extensions 18a, 18b, are also provided on each side of the first panel 10 with the scored fold lines 20a, 26b, defining the extensions. The panels 12, 14 and 16 are defined by scored fold lines 13 and 17 extending transversely of the length of the display sheet. These fold lines constitute hinged connections between the various body panels so that the panels 14, 16 can be folded into juxtaposed relationship with each other and the panel 12.

A supporting base 30 made up of a scored and folded cardboard blank as shown in Figure 10 includes side attachment panels 32, intermediate side panels 34, a back panel 36 and a hingedly connected extension flap 38. The scored fold lines 40a, 46b, 41a, 41b, define the side and intermediate panels and the extension flap 38 is hingedly connected to the back panel 36 along the score line 37. The outer ends of the score line 37 are slotted or perforated at each side, as indicated at 37a, so as to permit the side panels 34 to fold outwardly relative to the extension flaps 38. Arcuate extensions 44 of the back panel 36 are also outlined by slots 45 so as to be adapted to break out from the side panels 34 and remain in alignment with the back panel 36 and the supporting base when the base is unfolded in use. The outer face of the base extension fiap 38 is shaped as indicated at 39, so as 1 to present a symmetrical arcuate contour to the rear of the display sheet first panel 12.

The supporting base 311 is mounted on the rear face of the display sheet panel 12 by attachment of the side panels 32, preferably adhesively, to the side marginal edges of the panel 12. The center portion of the supporting base, including the back 36 and intermediate panels 34, is free and unattached.

With this arrangement, the display panel can be folded a compact unit ready for shipping or mailing, as shown in Figure 6, whose dimensions are no greater than the overall dimensions of the first panel 12 of the display. This is accomplished by folding the third panel 16 inwardly against second panel 14, thus protecting the relatively fragile end portion 15, and then folding panels 14, 16 over the front face of the first panel 12. The side panel extensions 18a, 1%, are then folded inwardly in sequence over the panels 14, 16, to complete the folded assembly shown in Figure 6.

The base, due to its construction as shown in Figures 5 and 11 for example, lies flatly against the opposite face of the sheet first panel 12 as shown in Figure 8 so that the display is ready for shipping or mailing.

In use, the side panel extensions 18a, 18b, are unfolded, and the main body panels 14 and 16 also unfolded are extended to their full length. By the pressing inwardly of the base extension fiap 38, the contoured face 39 of the extension flap is brought into engagement with the inner surface of the first panel 12 forming the display sheet into a correspondingly arcuate contour transversely of its length while the marginal edges of the first panel are restrained under tension by their attachment to the base side portions 32. This arcuate deforming or shaping of the sheet under tension prevents the other panel portions from folding at the score lines 13 and 17 so that the entire display is self-supporting and will remain in erected upright condition. The forcing outwards of the sheet first panel 12 by the base extension flap 38 also displaces the base back panel 36 outwardly, as shown most clearly in Figure 5, so that the intermediate side panels 34 extend diagonally between the display sheet first panel 12 and the base side panel 36 so as to serve as a stop and support at each side of the base extension 33. As will be appreciated, the upper surface of the flap 33 is also adapted to provide a supporting base or shelf for an article to be displayed, for example, if the inner surface of the display sheet bears the desired advertising material instead of the outer surface as in the example shown, or alternatively if a suitable opening is provided in an adjoining portion of the display panel.

In the alternative construction as shown in Figures 11 through 20, the main body of the display panel is again divided into two panel portions 60, 62, by a scored fold line 63, with the panel portion 62 contoured to simulate, for example, the head and shoulders of two persons as shown. Further, as shown in Figure 17, the blank from which this display is made is provided with a longitudinal scored fold line 65 and the base extension fiap 138 has a substantially angular formation 139 along the marginal edge adapted to contact and correspondingly deform the display sheet panel 61). With this arrangement, the depression of the base extension flap 138 deforms the display sheet along the scored fold line 63 in an angular formation corresponding with the contour of the edge or surface 139 of the fiap 138, while the outer edges are restrained under tension by their attachment to the base side portions 132.

With particular reference to Figure 18 it will be noted that the supporting base utilized in the alternative construction shown in Figure 11 is similar to that shown in the construction in Figure 1 with the difference in contour on the extension flap 138. The scored fold lines 1413a, 1411b, 141a, 141b, define side portions 132, intermediate side panels 134, with the scored fold line for the flap 138 indicated at 137 along the top of the back panel 136.

To collapse or fold this construction, as shown in Figure 19, the panel portion 62 is folded over in juxtaposed relationship with the panel portion 60 and the base 130 is folded to flat condition as shown in Figure 20. To erect this display, the panel portion 62 is unfolded and by pressing the flap 13 8 against the inner surface of the display sheet bottom panel 60 the sheet is deformed along the fold line 65, as mentioned above, and is made self-supporting in erected condition.

It will be understood by reference to the preceding description and the accompanying drawings that the possible variations of display panels based along the lines of the illustrated samples are endless. The only necessary limitations are with respect to the dimensions of the first or base panel portion of the display which of course determines the size of the folded display for shipping or mailing purposes. Otherwise, by the pro vision of as many scored folds or scored folding lines as necessary to permit the folding of the display panel into the size of the base panel portion, the erected height of the display can be as much as several feet since it has been found that by deforming the display sheet transversely of its length, while restraining it under tension, even when made of light cardboard, it can be rendered completely self-supporting throughout its length when so erected. Further, as previously mentioned and shown, see construction in Figure 1 for example, folding extensions can be provided at the sides of the display base panel portion, which when unfolded present additional display surfaces. Further, mobiles for example as indicated at A in Figure 2, can be added and secured by a strip B so that the supporting wire can be pulled out or retracted when the display is folded. The display panels of the invention can also be hung if desired. For example, a tab or projection, as indicated in Figure 12, can be provided on the base for this purpose.

I claim:

1. A collapsible display device comprising a main body of flexible sheet material scored and folded transversely of the length of such sheet to provide a hinge dividing said sheet into a plurality of panels adapted to be folded on each other to reduce the length of the sheet, and a supporting base connected to a first one of said panels, a hingedly connected extension on said base having a contoured sheet engaging face free of connection from said sheet and being adapted for pivotal displacement about said hinged connection to bring said contoured face into engagement with and deform said sheet transversely of said fold to correspond with said base extension contoured face while said sheet marginal edges are restrained under tension by connection to said supporting base rendering said sheet selfsupporting throughout its length in upright, extended and unfolded condition with the panels in longitudinal alignment, said supporting base acting as a further support to said extended sheet in said upright position.

2. A collapsible display device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting base is connected at each end to said flexible sheet adjacent the longitudinal side marginal edges to extend across that sheet in parallel relationship to the adjacent transverse marginal edge thereof with the center portion of said base free and unattached, said base extension being hingedly connected to said unattached portion and adapted for displacement inwardly thereof.

3. A collapsible display device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base extension contoured face is of an arcuate outline.

4. A collapsible display device, as claimed in claim 1, whgrlgin said base extension contoured face is of angular on e.

5. A collapsible display device, as claimed in claim 1, including integral extensions hingedly connected at each side of said main body and being adapted to fold into juxtaposed relationship with said main body first panel portion.

6. A display having a main panel of flexible material provided with transverse fold lines defining a first panel portion and at least one other panel portion hinged to hand enabling it to be folded to reduce its length, and a supporting base connected to each side of said first panel portion only, said first and other panel portions and supporting base being foldable together in superimposed relationship to provide a fiat package having overall dimensions no greater than the outer dimensions of said first panel portion, said supporting base having a hingedly connected extension flap provided with a contoured panel contacting outer surface, said flap being adapted for pivotal extension inwardly against the inner surface of said main panel first portion, said panel being normally non-self-supporting when unfolded and erected in flat condition and being adapted to be rendered selfsupporting by extension of said base fiap into engagement therewith whereby said panel is deformed transversely of its length from a flat and thereby stressed to assume a three-dimensional section corresponding to the contour of said base extension flap while being restrained under tension along the marginal edges of said first panel portion through said supporting base connection.

7. .A display, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said supporting base is connected at each end to said main panel first portion adjacent the longitudinal side marginal edges so as to extend across said panel portion in parallel relationship with the adjacent transverse marginal edge thereof with the central portion of said base free and unattached.

8. A display, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said supporting base is connected at each end to said main panel portion adjacent the longitudinal side marginal edges thereof so as to extend across said first panel portion in parallel relationship with the adjacent transverse marginal edge thereof with the central portion of said base free and unattached, said supporting base being scored and creased at spaced intervals along its length to constitute hinge connections whereby said supporting base is also deformed from a fiat to a three-dimensional section by extension of said base flap into contact with said main panel.

9. A display, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said supporting base extension flap contoured face is of an arcuate outline.

10. A display, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said supporting base extension flap is of angular outline.

11. A display, as claimed in claim 6, including integral extended portions of said main panel disposed at each side of said first panel portion and defined by scored hinge lines adjacent the ends of said supporting base, said panel extensions being adapted for folding into overlapped juxtaposed relationship within the confines of said panel first portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,517,067 Hornecker Nov. 25, 1924 1,656,341 Smith Jan. 17, 1928 2,084,635 Friedrich et al June 22, 1937 2,106,818 Sweeney Feb. 1, 1938 2,125,424 Cloud Aug. 2, 1938 2,509,397 Paige May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 379,074 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1952 393,688 Great Britain June 15, 1933 

